Liberty University
23-11
James Madison
16-26
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | Runs R | Hits H | Errors E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| James Madison | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 0 |
| Liberty | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 2 | X | 6 | 11 | 2 |
Lady Flames Hold On for Game 2 Win over Dukes
4/14/2010 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Despite a seventh-inning scoring surge by the Dukes, the Lady Flames held on to beat James Madison, 6-4, and complete the sweep of a non-conference doubleheader, Wednesday afternoon, at Liberty Softball Field.
The sweep marks the first time Liberty has taken both games from the Dukes since March 22, 2006. The Lady Flames picked up the Game 1 win, 5-1.
Liberty put its first base runner on in the bottom of the first when J'nae Jefferson led off with a single to right. She then moved into scoring position when Jenny Law laid down a successful sacrifice bunt. But Ashley Bensinger was thrown out on a close play at first and Kelly Strickland popped up to second to end the inning.
Cassie Hendrix extended her hitting streak to four games, tying her season high, with a one-out single through the right side in the bottom of the third. But she didn't advance, as she was thrown out at second on a fielder's choice for the second out, and Law grounded out to shortstop.
Bensinger tried to generate some momentum by leading off the bottom of the fourth with a lined single that ricocheted off the leg of pitcher Cara Stecher. Strickland then stepped up to blast her second home run of the day with a two-run shot to right field. The bomb, which sailed out of the park in nearly the same spot has her homer in Game 1, put the Lady Flames up, 2-0.
Hendrix recorded her second hit of the game in the bottom of the fifth, leading off with a single through the left side. Jefferson followed up with an infield single, putting runners on first and second with nobody out. Law then put down a well-placed sacrifice bunt, her second of the game, to advance the runners.
Bensinger then stepped up to rip a double to left center, driving in two runs and putting Liberty up, 4-0. At that point, JMU made its second pitching change of the day, bringing in Game 1 starter Heather Dindinger.
DePasquale lined out to second baseman Caitlin Manning, who tossed the ball to second for the double play.
The Dukes recorded their first hit of the game in the top of the sixth when Jasmine Butler singled with a bunt to third with two outs, and Lori Botkin reached on a fielding error by Strickland. Smith then struck out Shannon Moxey to keep the Dukes scoreless.
Kaylee West led off the bottom of the sixth with a single through the right side, and Meredith Baisden lined a two-run shot over the left field fence to give the Lady Flames a 6-0 advantage. The homer marked Baisden's second of the season.
Katie Spitzer put a run on the board for the Dukes in the top of the seventh, hitting a one-out homer to left center.
After Ashley Burnham singled through the left side and Jenny Clohan drew a walk, the trouble continued for Smith, as Courtney Simons hit a homer to right, bringing the score to 6-4 with two outs.
Pinch hitter Casey Mansfield reached on an error by Jefferson, and Botkin singled to center to bring the go-ahead run to the plate for JMU. Shannon Moxey then flew out to center to seal the 6-4 victory for Liberty.
With the win, the Lady Flames improve to 23-11 on the year, while James Madison drops to 16-26.
Bensinger and Baisden paced Liberty, each batting 2-for-3 with two RBIs. Strickland drove in two runs with her 12th homer of the year, and Hendrix was a perfect 3-for-3 at the plate.
Strickland's two blasts on the day move her into eighth place on Liberty's Top 10 single season home run list, as she now shares the spot on the list with Shannon Tanski, who also hit 12 home runs in 1996.
The Dukes were led by Simons, who was 1-for-3 and drove in three runs.
Smith (13-3) picked up the win in the circle, giving up five hits in the complete-game appearance. She also struck out 10 batters for the eighth time in her Liberty career.
Stecher (8-10) took the loss, giving up four hits in three complete innings of work.
Liberty is back in action this weekend, hosting Gardner-Webb in a three game series on Friday and Saturday, before welcoming George Washington to Liberty Softball Field for a non-conference doubleheader on Sunday.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Smith, Tiffani (13-3)
L: Stecher, Cara (8-10)
Batting:
HR: Spitzer, Katie 1 ; Simons, Courtney 1
RBI: Spitzer, Katie 1 ; Simons, Courtney 3
Base Running:
RUNS: Spitzer, Katie 1 ; Burnham, Ashley 1 ; Clohan, Michelle 1 ; Simons, Courtney 1
Batting:
2B: Bensinger, Ashley 1
HR: Strickland, Kelly 1 ; Baisden, Meredith 1
RBI: Bensinger, Ashley 2 ; Strickland, Kelly 2 ; Baisden, Meredith 2
SH: Law, Jenny 2
Base Running:
RUNS: Jefferson, J'nae 1 ; Bensinger, Ashley 1 ; Strickland, Kelly 1 ; Eatmon, Jenna 1 ; Baisden, Meredith 1 ; Hendrix, Cassie 1
SB: Baisden, Meredith 1
